Eight ways to experience Asia in Vancouver

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Slightly fewer than half of Vancouver residents are native English speakers, with 25% identifying Chinese as their first language, and a considerable population of Tagalog, Punjabi and Vietnamese speakers. Kai Oliver-Kurtin for USA TODAY

Vancouver is home to the third-largest Chinatown in North America. It was established in 1890 by an influx of Chinese laborers who came to build the Canadian Pacific Railway and work in local mines. Kai Oliver-Kurtin for USA TODAY

The next Chinese New Year Festival and parade in Chinatown will be held Feb. 18, 2018, featuring traditional lion dances, martial arts and cultural dance performances to ring in Year of the Dog. Coast Mountain Photography

View contemporary artwork from Asian and other diaspora artists at Centre A gallery in Chinatown. Their dedicated reading room and library is open to the public, with one of the most expansive collections of Asian art books in Canada. Rusaba Alam

Within Richmond’s Golden Village area, visitors will find a high density of Asian-themed malls and restaurants. The most modern Asian mall is Aberdeen Centre, containing 160 Asian-themed retail stores such as the Japanese dollar store Daiso, as well as restaurants, supermarkets and cultural entertainment. Tourism Richmond

Get a sampling of up to 20 different restaurants along the Dumpling Trail, a walkable, self-guided tour that highlights all the different types of Asian dumplings found in Richmond, like the ones seen here from Dinesty Dumpling House. Tourism Richmond

Powell Street Festival in Japantown, held next on Aug. 4 – 5, 2018, celebrates Japanese-Canadian arts and culture with performances such as taiko drumming, seen here by the Katari Taiko group. Jeanie Ow

Peace Arch is the busiest border crossing from the greater Seattle area into Canada, connecting the cities of Blaine, Wash., and Surrey, British Columbia. Vancouver is located 24 miles north of the U.S. border. Kai Oliver-Kurtin for USA TODAY

Home to the third-largest Chinatown in North America (after New York and San Francisco), Vancouver is the epitome of a global city, with its population almost equally divided between immigrants and non-immigrants. Slightly fewer than half of Vancouver residents are native English speakers, with 25% identifying Chinese as their first language, and a considerable population of Tagalog, Punjabi and Vietnamese speakers. Containing many vibrant cultures within a single metropolis located 24 miles from the U.S. border; Vancouver makes it easy to experience the essence of Asia without the hassle of a trans-Pacific flight.

1. Established as early as 1890, Vancouver’s Chinatown received an influx of Chinese laborers to build the Canadian Pacific Railway and work in local mines. Shanghai and Canton alleys began as the main hubs of activity, but today the commercial district spans about six blocks, filled with restaurants, specialty markets, apothecaries and more. Marking the entrance to Chinatown, Millennium Gate advises visitors (in Chinese) to “Remember the past and look forward to the future.” Head to North America’s largest Chinese eatery, Floata Seafood Restaurant, for traditional dim sum served from trolley carts, or visit Bao Bei or Sai Woo for Asian fusion cuisine. For takeaway options in the neighborhood, T&T Supermarket is Canada’s largest chain of Asian grocery stores. Guided walking tours are highly recommended by locals, available through A Wok Around Chinatown or Historical Chinatown Tours. Popular tour stops include The Wing Sang, Chinatown’s oldest building, and Sam Kee, the world’s narrowest commercial building at only 6 feet wide.

2. Modeled after private, classical garden homes popular during the Ming Dynasty in Suzhou, China, Dr. Sun Yat-Sen Classical Chinese Garden is the first authentic, full-scale garden of its kind built outside of China. Named for the founding father of modern China, this scholar’s garden was constructed by Suzhou artisans in time for the 1986 World’s Fair, solely using materials brought from China except for plants and water. Tucked into the middle of Chinatown, the garden welcomes 80,000 visitors annually, and offers a 45-minute guided tour of the grounds. The garden will hold two special Chinese New Year celebrations in 2018, the Year of the Dog Temple Fair (Feb. 18) and Lanterns in the Garden (weekends, Feb. 16 through March 4).

3. View contemporary artwork from Asian and other diaspora artists at Centre A gallery in Chinatown. Their dedicated reading room and library is open to the public, with one of the most expansive collections of Asian art books in Canada. In downtown Vancouver, the Poly Culture Art Center holds art exhibits and cultural events, primarily showcasing Chinese artwork, to promote multiculturalism and bilateral cultural exchange. Near English Bay Beach in the West End is one of Vancouver’s most well-known public art installations, titled “A-maze-ing Laughter” by Chinese artist Yue Minjun. At 8.5 feet tall each, the 14 bronze laughing figurine sculptures are hard to miss.

The next Chinese New Year Festival and parade in Chinatown will be held Feb. 18, 2018, featuring traditional lion dances, martial arts and cultural dance performances to ring in Year of the Dog.(Photo11: Coast Mountain Photography)

4. To experience Vancouver’s many cultural festivals, plan your visit to coincide with one of the following celebrations. The next Chinese New Year Festival and parade in Chinatown will be held Feb. 18, featuring traditional lion dances, martial arts and cultural dance performances to ring in Year of the Dog. Vancouver Chinatown Festival takes place every August, including a day market, historical and foodie walking tours, and multicultural performances. Powell Street Festival in Japantown, held next on Aug. 4 – 5, celebrates Japanese-Canadian arts and culture with performances from taiko drummers, sumo wrestlers and folk and modern dancers, as well as historical walking tours and demonstrations such as tea ceremonies, ikebana and bonsai. Richmond World Festival in September highlights the city’s cultural diversity with international concerts, food trucks, sporting events and art from around the globe. The Vancouver Asian Film Festival in November spotlights Asian diaspora and diversity in cinema, held at Cineplex Odeon International Village Cinemas in Chinatown.

5. Part of the metro Vancouver area, Richmond is a bicultural city located to the south, about a 30-minute drive from downtown Vancouver. Richmond offers diverse Asian history and culture, with more than half of its residents being of Chinese decent. The city is home to Richmond Night Market and Illumination Summer Night Market, modeled after the popular night markets found throughout Asia. Prepare to barter with vendors while shopping for clothes, giftables and food. Richmond Night Market is the larger of the two, running from May 11 through Oct. 8, with more than 100 food vendors and 250 retail stalls. Bestselling items at the 2017 market included Korean socks, furry onesies, Asian beauty products and fidget spinners. Much of the market food is sold on sticks, including the popular “rotato,” a deep-fried spiraled potato sprinkled with seasoning. The Illumination Summer Night Market (formerly known as the International Summer Night Market and Panda Market) runs from May through September, marked by colorful light displays, containing 60 food stalls and 100 retail booths.

Richmond Night Market is the area’s largest Asian night market, running in 2018 from May 11 through Oct. 8, featuring more than 100 food vendors and 250 retail stalls.(Photo11: Albert Normandin)

6. Within Richmond’s Golden Village area, visitors will find a high density of Asian-themed malls and restaurants. Among Richmond’s 800 restaurants, 400 serve Asian food, with 220 of them located within strip malls in a three-block radius along Alexandra Road. Get a sampling of up to 20 different restaurants along the Dumpling Trail, a walkable, self-guided tour that highlights all the different types of Asian dumplings found in Richmond. The major Asian shopping centers include the modern Aberdeen Centre, containing 160 Asian-themed retail stores such as the Japanese dollar store Daiso, as well as restaurants, supermarkets and cultural entertainment; Parker Place, known for its robust food court similar to the Hawkers Markets in Asia with several mom-and-pop food stalls; and Yaohan Centre, which offers products and personal services such as photography, dental care and currency exchange, alongside restaurants and retail stores.

7. Operated by the International Buddhist Society in Richmond, Guan-Yin Temple (also seen as Kuan-Yin and Quan-Yin) offers a break for quiet, reflective time. Run by 11 resident Buddhist monks, longtime staff and volunteers, the temple is open daily for prayers, regular religious ceremonies, ancestral chanting, dharma talks and meditation retreats. There’s no strict dress code for visitors, but photography is limited to the building’s exterior. While on site, visit the temple’s vegetarian restaurant, Taste of Zen, and explore the Chinese garden and koi pond. Guided walking tours are available for groups of 15 people or more.

8. Although the Chinese influence is dominant in metro Vancouver, many other Asian countries have strong representations. Japantown is a small, historic neighborhood located north of Chinatown, now commonly referred to as the Railtown district, and was once home to a concentration of Japanese immigrants prior to World War II. The historic seaside town of Steveston in Richmond is modeled after a traditional Japanese fishing village, complete with a Fisherman’s Wharf, but is now a predominantly British area. Both Indian and Korean cuisine are increasingly popular in Vancouver, with renowned Indian chef Vikram Vij attracting a cult following to his namesake restaurant Vij’s, located in Cambie Village, and a concentration of Korean restaurants dispersed throughout the West End along Robson Street.

The signature dish is the Thit Bo, Vietnamese marinated buttered beef. Ultra-thin slices are seared in fragrant butter, then arranged around a very complex salad/sauce combo with lots of chopped cilantro. Larry Olmsted, for USA TODAY

The Mi Kho Nam Vang, dry egg noodles, are served with a crispy, chewy consistency, but when you toss in the toppings, chopped cilantro, sauce, sliced beef and shrimp, it becomes moist. Larry Olmsted, for USA TODAY